Abraham Lincoln — "I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."

"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of …"

"The plainest print cannot be read through a gold eagle."

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

"Permit me to say that, in my humble judgment, I never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence."

"The leading rule for the lawyer, as for the man, is diligence. Leave nothing for to-morrow which can be done to-day."